This weekend I wanted to unwind in one of my favorite ways - hiking the national forest. I am not one of those people who has to trek to a view or waterfall to be refilled and refreshed. I unwind and connect with my inner peace simply by walking in the mountains and observing nature. This weekend, however, I was still battling a nasty cold and the reality was my energy stores were extremely low so instead we hopped in the 4 Runner and started connecting on service roads.Humans and animals alike tend to follow the easiest path, and the service roads winding through the national forest are no ex...
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It is easy to conjure images of art tents and festival food when you think about spring in the mountains. And yes, at Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, you will find all of that.But this festival is something quieter… and somehow richer.Have you heard a good story lately?Not a quick reel. Not a headline. Not something half-listened to while doing three other things. A real story—the kind that unfolds slowly, with a voice, a rhythm, and a moment where you forget everything else around you.That’s what lives at Bear on the Square.On the main stage, storytelling weaves in and out of musi...
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Vacations have always been a place where we give ourselves permission to splurge, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the food we choose while traveling. My sister believes ice cream should be eaten anytime, anywhere, and for any reason. Much like our grandfather, she has never needed a vacation to justify a scoop. I, on the other hand, have never fully understood the ice cream craze, yet somehow, I eat it more on vacation than any other time.Sometimes the foods we lean into while the slow days of a holiday drift by are shaped by the place itself. If you visit Maine, lobster feels almost ...
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I’ve been on what you might call a bit of an antique shopping kick over the last few weeks.Not the serious kind—the kind where you show up with measurements and a plan—but more of a jaunt. These trips have included my sister, my cousin, good friends, and most recently, my grandsons. And somewhere between wandering aisles and laughing over things we definitely didn’t need, I realized something:Antique hunting is as unique to a person as their purse—or in the case of the men in my life, their wallet.Some people move quickly, scanning booths like they’re on a mission, then circling ba...
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About twenty years ago my uncle introduced me to hiking. Up until then I had spent most of my life in Florida, South Georgia, or New Orleans — places where a “hill” might be a highway overpass. But when I visited him in the Smoky Mountains, he handed me a pair of sticks (who knew those were necessary?) and packed me a lunch.Inside was a sandwich, some snacks, and an apple. He told me apples help prevent cramps. I’m not sure how many apples it actually takes to keep the cramps away, but after six hours on the trail I was happy for the calories regardless of their medicinal value.My uncl...
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“Robins, Wildflowers & Mountain Mist: Welcoming Spring in North Georgia”Winter doesn’t leave the North Georgia mountains all at once. It slips away slowly — one warm afternoon, one birdsong, one soft layer of mist lifting off the valleys at a time. Long before weather apps and calendars, mountain families watched for signs instead. Spring wasn’t a date... it was something you noticed.Maybe it was the first robin hopping across the yard. Or frogs beginning their nighttime chorus after months of quiet woods. Wildflowers appearing along hiking trails almost overnight. Even the morni...
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Rock hound is such a great name for people who enjoy collecting rocks and minerals. Geologist just doesn’t bring a smile to your face in quite the same way. But rock hound? That makes me want to pull on rubber boots, wander a cold mountain creek, and keep my eyes peeled for the perfect piece of quartz to tuck into a terrarium or line along a windowsill.And here’s the thing—North Georgia has been quietly feeding that impulse for nearly 200 years.A Landscape Shaped by Gold and StoneLong before it became a destination for leaf-peepers, hikers, and cabin weekends, North Georgia was at the ce...
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When Mother Nature takes over and time is measured not by clocks—but by sunlight, gray clouds lifting, how loudly the deck boards snap when frozen, and whether the firewood stack is still winning. Time is also marked by that automated call announcing school is out tomorrow—which somehow feels more official than any weather forecast.  When a storm rolls in, our focus shifts fast. The bigger world fades and we move into mountain checklist mode. Experience has taught us what matters: slippery roads, occasional power outages, and decks that require loose knees, slow steps, ...
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It still surprises me how few hosts take the time to respond to Airbnb reviews. Whether the review is glowing or includes a few bumps, replying makes a big impact—and it's something we strongly recommend for all our Suches Vacation Rentals homeowners.Here’s why it matters, and how to do it well.Why You Should Respond1. It Shows Future Guests You’re EngagedWhen potential guests scroll through your listing, they’re not just reading reviews—they’re watching how you respond. A thoughtful, friendly reply shows that you’re attentive, care about the guest experience, and are ready to he...
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Nestled in the heart of North Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest, the Toccoa River and surrounding waters provide an unforgettable fishing experience. Whether you're chasing trophy trout or teaching your kids to cast a line, this region offers some of the best fishing in Blue Ridge and Suches. This guide highlights top fishing destinations like the Toccoa River, Cooper Creek Wildlife Management Area, Lake Winfield Scott, Vogel State Park, and Black Mountain Trout Ponds.Toccoa River Fishing: A Trout Angler's ParadiseThe Toccoa River is one of the most popular fly fishing rivers in North Ge...
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